By Jonathan Merwin, Founder and CEO, Licensed Insurance Advisor. Updated October 30, 2026.
Shippan Point runs south from Stamford into Long Island Sound, with Stamford Harbor on one side and Westcott Cove on the other. It has been a place for grand houses since the early 1800s, and today it mixes Gilded Age estates, pre-war colonials and new shoreline homes. That combination of old construction and open water makes insurance here different from the rest of Stamford.
Key facts
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the Stamford Hurricane Protection Barrier protects about 600 acres; much of Shippan Point lies outside it, facing the Sound.
- During Sandy, water at the barrier peaked at 11.1 feet on October 29, 2012, a record, and the Corps estimated it prevented about $25.5 million in damage, per its post-storm release.
- The Moses Rogers estate covered more than 400 acres of the point before it was subdivided into nearly 400 lots in the 1870s, according to the Stamford Historical Society.
- Marion Castle, built from 1914 to 1916, was described by the Society as the only Shippan building on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Chubb and Cincinnati handle any dwelling limit, and Openly reaches $5 million, all subject to underwriting.
From one estate to a neighborhood of shoreline homes
Shippan’s modern history starts with Moses Rogers, a New York merchant who built a mansion on the point in 1812 and gathered the entire southern part of the peninsula into one estate. After his family’s holdings were auctioned, the land was carved into lots in the 1870s, a hotel called the Ocean House opened in 1870 and the point became a summer resort for New York families. The Stamford Yacht Club formed in 1890 on the western shore, trolley service arrived in 1892 and the Shippan Improvement Association, the forerunner of today’s Shippan Point Association, was founded in 1902 to keep industry out.
Building picked up in the early twentieth century. The Shippan Land Company opened Saddle Rock and Rogers Roads in 1913, and large houses went up for families who lived on the point year-round or for the summer. That history shows in the housing today: stone and stucco estates, shingle-style homes with deep porches, center-hall colonials from the 1920s and newer houses built on the footprints of older ones.
Insuring older and historic Shippan homes
An older Shippan house can be very expensive to rebuild. Slate and copper roofs, plaster walls, leaded glass, hand-carved trim and stone foundations take specialized trades. The dwelling limit should reflect that cost, which can be well above what a builder would charge for a new house of the same size. A professional replacement cost appraisal is worth the effort on a home like this.
High-value policies help in a few specific ways. Extended replacement cost options give room if rebuilding costs more than expected. Ordinance or law coverage pays for bringing a damaged house up to current codes, which near the water often means flood-resistant construction or a higher first floor. Matching coverage can pay to replace undamaged parts of a room so the finish is consistent. We compare these terms side by side. Our replacement cost estimator is a starting point.
Surge, the barrier and the open Sound
Stamford has a long flood history. The Corps notes that the city has recorded coastal flood losses since 1635, and that the 1938 hurricane and Hurricane Carol in 1954 caused heavy damage. The Stamford Hurricane Protection Barrier, built between 1965 and 1969, closes off the harbor and protects about 600 acres of the city. The barrier did its job during Sandy, closing for several days as water reached a record height.
Most of Shippan Point, though, sits seaward of that protection. Homes along the shore roads face the Sound with nothing in front of them but a seawall or a beach. In 2013, the CT Mirror reported on Shippan homes being placed into flood zones on new maps and on a beachfront house that took a serious hit in Sandy. The lesson for owners is that elevation and exact location matter more than the neighborhood name.
Flood insurance for Shippan Point homes
Flood is excluded from every homeowners policy. On Shippan Point, it is often the most important coverage decision a family makes. The NFIP building limit is usually well below the rebuild cost of a large shoreline home, and it limits coverage in basements. Private flood can offer higher building limits, contents coverage that reflects the house and, in some cases, coverage for additional living expense while the home is repaired.
Through Selective we place NFIP policies; for private flood, the markets we compare are Flow Flood, Neptune, TFIA, Beyond Floods, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. An elevation certificate sharpens every one of those quotes. FEMA’s map portal shows the official zone for a Shippan lot, and the City of Stamford posts flood information and resources for property owners. Our Stamford flood insurance page goes into the city’s flood zones in more detail.
Nor’easters, wind and hurricane deductibles
Hurricanes get the attention, but Nor’easters hit Shippan more often. A slow-moving coastal storm can push water onto the shore for several tide cycles in a row, throw spray and debris over seawalls and bring down old trees across Ocean Drive. Wind-driven rain also finds its way into older windows and roofs.
Many Connecticut shoreline policies carry a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible, often set as a percentage of the dwelling limit. On a large home, the difference between deductible options is significant. We show each carrier’s wind and hurricane deductible, any requirements for shutters or impact-rated windows and how the policy treats roof age.
Seawalls, docks and the shoreline
Many Shippan properties have seawalls, stone revetments, stairs to the beach or private docks. These structures are expensive to rebuild and often get limited coverage. Many home forms exclude seawalls and bulkheads, or exclude damage to them from waves, ice and flood. A handful of specialty insurers go further, sometimes by endorsement.
Before a storm season, it helps to photograph the shoreline, keep repair records and note who built the wall and when. After a storm, those records make a claim faster. Boats at the Stamford Yacht Club or a private mooring need their own coverage; see our Fairfield County boat insurance page.
Art, jewelry, wine and liability
Shippan households often own art, jewelry, silver, wine and collector cars that go well beyond the limits of a standard policy. High-value carriers can schedule these items with broad coverage, often with no deductible for scheduled pieces. Collector cars go to Hagerty. Waterfront homes also bring liability from guests, pools, docks and boats, so we pair the home with an umbrella policy sized to the household.
Carriers we compare for Shippan homes
On the point, the biggest and oldest houses most often go to Chubb or Cincinnati, neither of which caps the dwelling limit and both of which are built for estates with collections. Openly is a strong option up to $5 million. For homes set back from the water or with simpler construction, Andover (up to $2 million in Connecticut) and Hanover (up to $2 million) sometimes join the comparison. First-floor elevation, distance to the seawall, roof condition and the age of wiring and plumbing all affect which of these will quote, and the underwriter has the last word. Here is how we approach carrier selection.
Information that helps with a Shippan quote
- The address, year built and any major renovations or additions
- A recent appraisal or details on materials such as slate, plaster and custom millwork
- An elevation certificate and any current flood policy
- Roof age, windows and shutters, generator and alarm details
- Seawall, dock and outbuilding details, plus boats, collector cars and valuables
Related Stamford and Fairfield County pages
Shippan owners also read our Stamford high-value home insurance page, our Stamford homeowners insurance page, the Fairfield County flood insurance page and neighborhood pages for Belle Haven, Riverside and Old Greenwich and Rowayton. The Connecticut high-value home insurance guide covers the rest of the state.
Request a Shippan Point home quote
Send us the address and what you know about the house and shoreline, and we will compare carriers that fit. About 90% of our quotes go out within 24 hours, and we don’t charge any fees.
Shippan Point home insurance FAQs
Does the Stamford hurricane barrier protect Shippan Point?
Not most of it. The barrier protects about 600 acres behind it, including parts of the harbor area. Homes out on the point, especially along the shore roads, face Long Island Sound directly. Check your exact address on the FEMA flood map and ask for an elevation certificate.
Do I need flood insurance on Shippan Point if my lender does not require it?
We strongly suggest looking at it. Home insurance excludes flood, and Sandy showed that houses a few lots back from the water can still take damage. For a large home, private flood can offer higher building limits than the NFIP.
How should I insure a pre-war Shippan house?
Set the dwelling limit to the cost of rebuilding with similar materials and craftsmanship, not to the sale value. Look for extended replacement cost and ordinance or law coverage, since a rebuild near the water has to meet current flood and building codes.
Are seawalls and docks covered by my homeowners policy?
Often only in part. Many policies limit or exclude seawalls, bulkheads, docks and piers, especially for damage from waves, ice or flood. Wording varies widely, so we lay out each carrier’s terms before you choose.
What is a hurricane deductible?
Many Connecticut shoreline policies apply a separate deductible, often a percentage of the dwelling limit, when damage comes from a hurricane or named storm. On a large Shippan home, that can be a meaningful amount, so we show it side by side when we compare carriers.
Which carriers write high-value homes on Shippan Point?
For the largest point homes, Chubb or Cincinnati, since neither sets a ceiling on the dwelling. Openly fits homes up to $5 million. Waterfront homes face tighter underwriting, and each company decides independently.
Sources
- Stamford Historical Society, A Concise History of Shippan
- Shippan Point Association
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Stamford Hurricane Protection Barrier
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hurricane Sandy aftermath: hurricane barriers prevent $29.7 million in damages
- CT Mirror, “Who pays on the Connecticut shoreline,” October 10, 2013
- City of Stamford, Flood Information and Resources
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
About Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance
Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is a family-owned independent agency founded in Portsmouth in 2005 and licensed in 10 states. We compare 40+ carriers, hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials (see our client feedback). Our team brings 200+ years of combined experience. We don’t charge any fees.
We serve Shippan Point homeowners by phone at (603) 431-4020, by email, online or through a Connecticut office.
About the author
Jonathan Merwin is the Founder and CEO of Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance and a Licensed Insurance Advisor. He started the agency in Portsmouth in 2005 and works with owners of larger and older homes on shoreline and historic homes on Shippan Point. Read his full bio or see how we choose carriers.